WASHINGTON—Secretary of State John Kerry is making one thing very clear when it comes to a potential military strike against Syria: There will be no American boots on the ground.

Kerry went to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to urge Congress to approve the Obama administration's request for limited action against Syria.

Kerry said there was no problem in having language in legislation that, in his words, "has zero capacity for American troops on the ground."

Some lawmakers have expressed reluctance about being drawn into a larger conflict. But Kerry stressed that what President Barack Obama is seeking would be military action limited in scope and duration that would send a message to the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad (bah-SHAR' AH'-sahd) that it can't get away with using chemical weapons.

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